Do we really need these special gravels? - Substrates

Aussie_star · 08-04-2005, 11:25 PM

Im sure this has been asked before but,
I am thinking of getting eco complete for my tank, but if we add all of these things that it is mean to have eg trace element, iron and stuff by fertilising to normal gravel, and if we continueto add it and right levels we dont really need it then wouldnt we?

I just not sure at the moment, was thing of getting normal gravel and adding peat moss to it to help out a bit, and adding these extras that are need. Casue pmdd has iron, trac elements in it, which this eco complete has. In australia we have flourite in out water so every time i do a water change i and replacing it or adding more flourite, but will have to try and add some anyways.

So whats is everyone else opinion on the topic

brad · 08-05-2005, 05:52 AM

Do you need Eco complete to grow nice plants? No. It allows you to goof a little more on your ferts schedule though.

Sprinkle a little peat at the bottom of your tank, throw in some mulm from an established tank if you can, and make sure to stay on top of fertilizing the water and watch your plants grow.

**AaronT** · 08-05-2005, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brad

Do you need Eco complete to grow nice plants? No. It allows you to goof a little more on your ferts schedule though.

Sprinkle a little peat at the bottom of your tank, throw in some mulm from an established tank if you can, and make sure to stay on top of fertilizing the water and watch your plants grow.

The special gravels also are the correct grain size for planting in. If you decide to use regular gravel you can, but make sure it is a very fine grain size of about 3 millimeters in diameter. Otherwise, you'll have a heck of a time getting most plants to stay.

Nolan W. · 08-05-2005, 09:45 AM

Adding some laterite along with the peat may help, too. I use coarse sand with a laterite underlayer in my tank.

MatPat · 08-05-2005, 10:30 AM

Honestly, if you are fertilizing the water column properly for your tank, I think the plants could care less what they are rooted in. I have found smaller types of substrates are better for holding the plants down but that seems to be the only benefit as far as I'm concerned.

Unless some scientific tests prove me wrong, I will go with silica sand or another similarly sized substrate in the next tank I set up.

SnakeIce · 08-05-2005, 12:29 PM

I have found that root feeders like crypts and swords do better in the clay based substrates like florite, profile or gravel over laterite. I don't know the details of why but it has something to do with the cation exchange being better due to greater surface area of the substrate.

this is with all things being equal as far as lighting and keeping the plants fed.

brad · 08-05-2005, 01:03 PM

there are lots of plants that ¨prefer¨ to get their nutrients from the substrate. Swords, lotus` etc.....All the plants will turn to the water column though, and lots of healthy leaves are nicer than lots of healthy roots

Aussie_star · 08-05-2005, 06:58 PM

just one thing what is mulm?
I have a 75 gallon spare in a couple of months when i sell some fish, so i am going to try and setup it up with normal gravel, def. under 3mm dia with some peat moss. Plus adding ferts

Damn about the swords and lotus, there are what i many want to go with my discus, but i think they still should be alright with the gravel and peat moss. Will just have to try and see how it goes.

brad · 08-06-2005, 08:14 AM

Mulm is the fish waste that collects at the bottom of the tank. It can be fish food, fish poop...... Either way, it`s a good fertilizer and a great way to kick start a tank.

I have both lotuses and swords in my tank. I cheated at first and put in some root tabs, but haven`t gotten around to it in 6 months and haven`t seen any slower growth. I just pay more attention to my water colomn ferts.

plantbrain · 08-06-2005, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brad

there are lots of plants that ¨prefer¨ to get their nutrients from the substrate. Swords, lotus` etc.....All the plants will turn to the water column though, and lots of healthy leaves are nicer than lots of healthy roots

No they don't.
Folks love to say this, I've never seen any edvidence and I've had these plants for decades. I'm quite good with Crypts and swords, well, if they grow slower and do not get as large, that would be a blessing. They get too big for most tanks, so do Lotus.

I can prune off all the roots of a sword and it'll grow just fine. Same for the Crypts. No difference.

Just because a river plant has big roots, does not imply it prefers anything. The roots may just be to hold the plant in place.

But the tanks I've had these plants never had much, if any ferts and the plants grew better than anyone else's that added ferts to the substrate.........

Why would they prefer to grow better in that case if what you say is true?
This is not one tank, one year's wotrth of experience, this is many tanks over decades and over 40 species in both groups.

Regards,
Tom Barr